Verizon Wireless Announces A $131.6 Million Network Investment In South Carolina
COLUMBIA, SC — Verizon Wireless announced today over $131.6 million was invested in 2006 to enhance and improve the company's voice and data wireless network across South Carolina, increasing the company's total investment over the past six years to $445 million.
Verizon Wireless also launched the company's Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) third generation (3G) wide-area network in several SC markets, including Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston. Verizon Wireless' national EV-DO network is currently available to approximately 200 million Americans coast to coast.
In addition, Verizon Wireless opened and remodeled several new retail stores during 2006 in Greenville, Orangeburg, and Florence extending the company's customer service options and creating employment opportunities for many South Carolina residents.
"Providing our customers with a reliable network requires the commitment to invest millions of dollars every year to deliver dependable wireless coverage," said Jerry Fountain, Verizon Wireless Carolinas/Tennessee region president. "By bringing our EV-DO network to South Carolina this year, we have given residents better options for their wireless high-speed data needs."
Verizon Wireless' fiscal investment in the Palmetto State is evidence of the company's commitment to SC. Verizon Wireless was also listed in the "Top 25" of South Carolina Chamber's "Big Fifty" employers list in 2006. Over 4,000 people are employed statewide, and the company operates three large customer service centers in three of the state's largest metropolitan areas (Columbia, Greenville and Charleston).
Verizon Wireless is committed to offering customers the most reliable service on the nation's best wireless voice and data network*. To support that claim, the company's engineers conduct more than 750,000 voice call attempts and more than four million data tests quarterly on Verizon Wireless' and other national wireless carriers' networks. The company's engineers travel approximately 220,000 miles of the most frequently traveled roadways nationwide in specially equipped, company-owned quality test vehicles.
For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services in South Carolina, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit www.verizonwireless.com.
* Network details at www.verizonwireless.com/bestnetwork.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 57 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 60,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
EDITORS NOTE: Test Man Ride-Along Program for the News Media
Specially-equipped Verizon Wireless test vehicles simultaneously test the Verizon Wireless network as well as the networks of as many as seven other wireless providers, using a mobile laptop computer to generate phonically diverse "conversations." If one of your reporters is interested in setting up an interview or ride-along test drive with your locally-based Verizon Wireless test man or woman, please contact Jared Kelowitz at 864-233-3776, ext. 24.
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